Table of contents for June - July 2015 in Maxim

WHAT’S HOT NOW? Well, me, for one. I’m delirious, slumped over in the ER, while a nurse tries to find a decent vein in which to insert the IV to hydrate me. My temperature is 103, and it’s been blazing for three days. The irony’s not lost on me that I’m also feverishly on deadline for our Hot issue—traditionally Maxim’s annual survey of the hottest people on the planet. As we set about assembling the issue, it became quickly apparent that there’s more to being hot than good looks (a fact amply demonstrated by my fever). Heat isn’t static. It moves, flowing like a current from one body to another. Heat is urgent and transitory. It’s defined by context, by the surrounding environment. Culturally speaking, to be hot, you must…

Long Island Bar BROOKLYN Toby Cecchini is credited with inventing the cosmo, but we’re more impressed by the lounge he co-owns. It’s a perfect midcentury time capsule. But instead of roustabouts knocking back shots, you’ll find a stylish crowd of locals— including staffers from Hillary’s nearby campaign HQ—clamoring for reinvented standards like the Long Island gimlet (with ginger) and the Trinidad oldfashioned (with boiled apple cider). Lounge Bohemia LONDON Hidden between a kebab shop and a newsstand in East London, the subterranean Lounge Bohemia features a quirky Eastern Europe–in-the-’60s aesthetic and an even quirkier Czech owner. Reservations are made by calling his cell, and there is a no-suit policy, which keeps rowdy banker types at bay. Try the Holy Smoke, VSOP cognac with frankincense-andmyrrh smoke, served in a flask hidden…

Marco Canora was a mess. “My body was in a sad state of affairs,” the chef and owner of New York’s Hearth restaurant recalls. Then he started sipping bone broth. Not only was he satiated, he was more calm. In response, he opened Brodo, a takeout window where he serves up to 400 cups daily. The collagen, amino acids, and minerals in the bones have been said to help repair tissue, reduce inflammation, and aid in the healing of joint injuries. Just ask Kobe Bryant, who swears the broth got him back in the game after a series of injuries. Whether these health claims would pass muster with the FDA, four out of five grandmothers would undoubtedly approve.…

“At 89, obviously my dad has slowed down, but HE STILL COMES IN EVERY DAY .” The Padrón family, one of the preeminent clans in the cigar business, has an origin story as rich and complex as their finest smoke. started in 1880, when the Padrón ancestors emigrated from the Canary Islands to Cuba began growing tobacco, then took a dramatic turn when the clan’s patriarch, Jose Orlando, was forced to flee the Castro regime and fresh in the United States. Fifty years later, son, 47-year-old Jorge Padrón, is running show, with the thoughtful guidance of his and consigliere. My father left Cuba in ’61. At that time, the U.S. government had this program to give all the Cubans coming in financial help and the basic goods they needed. My…

Only a few years after her appearance on Last Comic Standing (she placed fourth), her unique sensibility— uncompromising, unedited, and totally explicit—has made her one of comedy’s most beloved new stars. On her Comedy Central show, Inside Amy Schumer, she has tackled finger blasting, group sex, and countless failed relationships. And this summer, she’s primed to bring her sexually charged humor to the big screen as comedy impresario Judd Apatow’s new leading woman. In Trainwreck, Schumer plays a debauched writer for a men’s magazine (a role we heartily endorse) who falls for a sports surgeon she’s interviewing. Schumer wrote the script, making it the first Apatow film that he didn’t write himself. More than an endorsement, Trainwreck is almost a passing of the torch.…

Sci-fi powerhouses Lana and Andy Wachowski (The Matrix Trilogy) and J. Michael Straczynski (Babylon 5) pop the red pill of binge-able streaming television with this summer’s Netflix series Sense8. The show, which focuses on eight strangers who are telepathically and emotionally bonded following a tragic death, was crafted less like a television show than a 12-hour movie. And it’s considerably sexier than the typical sci-fi. “It’s about what it is to be human,” Straczynski says, “We embraced all of it: gender, identity, sexuality, politics, the secrets that make us who and what we are. Nothing is hidden.”…

Sturgill Simpson He’s a throwback country crooner who fills his swaggering, Merle Haggard– style twang with big-think lyrics about the cosmos and the meaning of life. Stream this: “Turtles All the Way Down” Earl Sweatshirt Part of the L.A. hiphop collective Odd Future, Sweatshirt’s brutally honest, bass-heavy, and brilliantly considered I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside is one of the best rap albums of the year. Stream this: “Grown Ups” The Weeknd Atmospheric, grooving, and unapologetically sexy—that’s what you get from a breakout R&B Romeo with a bedroom-ready album called Kiss Land. Light some candles. Many candles. Stream this: “King of the Fall” Waxahatchee Alabama-born Katie Crutchfield makes raggedly beautiful indie pop. Her new album, Ivy Tripp, is a sonic breakthrough sure to be the summer so…

There were once only two ways to sit courtside at an NBA game: make Jay Z–level cash or move to a crummy sports town (Hornets, anyone?). Now there’s a third way: Strap on VR goggles, like Samsung’s Gear VR Innovator Edition. Samsung’s own content service, Milk VR, features video experiences with Formula Drift car racing, snowboarding, and the NBA (which says it hopes to one day broadcast some games live in VR, from courtside). A competitor called Next VR is working with the NHL and NASCAR. As for VR chili dogs? They’re still in beta.…

Jennifer Lawrence The Oscar-winning A-lister headlines The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2 and X-Men: Apocalypse, and reteams with director David O. Russell (American Hustle, Silver Linings Playbook) for Joy. Sienna Miller Prepare to see a lot more of this London-reared actress. She’s following up her acclaimed roles in Foxcatcher and American Sniper with five movies this year alone. Emma Stone The beguiling Birdman star doubles down with prestige directors in 2015— starring in both Woody Allen’s Irrational Man and Cameron Crowe’s Aloha. Felicity Jones She won raves for her Oscar-nominated role as the wife of Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything, and now Jones is set to take off in the 2016 Star Wars spin-off, Rogue One.…

Isabeli Fontana Brazilian catwalk vet Fontana has utilized her unforgettable gaze for Victoria’s Secret, the Pirelli calendar, Balmain, Moschino, and Viktor & Rolf. Edita Vilkeviciute This leggy Lithuanian has posed for Victoria’s Secret, H&M, Calvin Klein, and Roberto Cavalli. Ana Beatriz Barros Another Brazilian who blew up the Victoria’s Secret catwalk, Barros has campaigns for Armani, Guess, Diesel, Chanel cosmetics, and L’Oréal, and was a guest judge on Model Turned Superstar. Andreea Diaconu A Romanian catwalker who’s modeled for nine Ralph Lauren campaigns, Diaconu also stuns for Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Belstaff. Jourdan Dunn This London-born-andbred beauty is the face of prestige British brand Burberry. Candice Swanepoel The flawless South African supe wasn’t just Maxim’s March cover girl—she topped our Hot 100 last year.…

Scarlett Johansson Besides reprising her role as Black Widow in this summer’s Avengers: Age of Ultron, Scar-Jo fronts a girl group called the Singles, featuring bassist Este Haim of L.A. popsters Haim. Rita Ora Whether she’s gueststarring on Empire or crashing the charts with “Black Widow,” this singer-actress has undeniable star power—and Jay Z’s Roc Nation label behind her—as she vies to capture the pop throne. Selena Gomez This Texas-born double threat cranks out biting pop anthems like “Come & Get It” and stars in projects like James Franco’s ’30s California farmworker drama, In Dubious Battle. Victoria Justice She’s best known as a Nickelodeon sitcom actress and sometime singer, but this talented Floridian is set to make her movie debut with the teen revenge comedy The Outskirts. Zooey Deschanel She…

Lara Stone This Dutch supermodel with a signature gap tooth has made curves cool again, causing countless incidents of whiplash with her sexy Calvin Klein underwear billboards alone. Doutzen Kroes The Dutch stunner recently left Victoria’s Secret after nearly a decade with the lingerie brand to focus on lucrative contracts like Tiffany, L’Oréal, and Dolce & Gabbana. Joan Smalls This Puerto Rican–born stunner isn’t just the first Latina to be the face of Estée Lauder, she’s also modeled for Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Givenchy, and Fendi. Alessandra Ambrosio This veteran Victoria’s Secret Angel has been turning heads as a model since she was discovered at 14 in her native Brazil—and recently the gorgeous mom of two has launched a jewelry and clothing line, ále by Alessandra. Adriana Lima Next to Gisele…

Brie Larson Look for The Spectacular Now star to flex her comedic muscles alongside Amy Schumer in Trainwreck. Lola Kirke Her three featured 2015 indies include a Sundance-wowing turn as an awkward Columbia University freshman in director Noah Baumbach’s comedy Mistress America. Alexis Bledel Best known as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls, the beautiful Bledel is back on the small screen in the ABC drama Motive and in the indie flick Jenny’s Wedding. Imogen Poots She’s starring in three indies and one biggie this year: legendary director Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups with Christian Bale, Natalie Portman, and Cate Blanchett.…

FOR YEARS, HOT SAUCE has been marketed like a school-yard challenge— a bottled dare that taunted us from tabletops across America. Think you can take the heat? it sneered. But a new breed of hot-sauce makers is on the horizon: Inspired by breakout stars like Cholula and Sriracha, they’re focused not only on face-melting but on flavor as well. “There are so many of these guys; some even make hot sauces in their bathtub,” says High River Sauces’ Steve Seabury (who, for the record, doesn’t bathe where his concoctions are made). As a result, the hot-sauce business is on fire—a $1 billion U.S. industry, with revenues expected to jump 6.6 percent this year, according to research firm IBISWorld. Hot sauce even has its own Hall of Fame. Can mayo or…

HOT-SAUCE EXPOS are where fire fiends come to test their taste buds. And the CaJohns Execution Station, a lineup of seven palate-igniting samples (with an optional eighth for the truly insane), is the most extreme. About 85 percent make it through. “We always hear, ‘Oh man, that was so great—I puked, and I puked!’ ” reports CaJohns founder John Hard. “That’s not my idea of a great time, but you’ve got the endorphin thing with these chilies. It’s like a runner’s high.” Hard is known as “the Godfather of hot sauce”: He’s an old-timer who owns his own hot-sauce company and has mentored at least 100 other sauce makers. But he can no longer survive his own gauntlet. Almost three years ago, he was treated for throat cancer. Now cancer-free,…

Six years ago, Patrick Donagher put sour beers from the legendary Belgian brewery Cantillon on tap at his Manhattan bar, the Jeffrey. “I had five of the best sour beers on the planet,” he says, “and nobody fucking drank them.” No wonder: “Sour” back then was what we called a Natty Light lost in the back of the fridge; super-hoppy IPAs were the beer geeks’ obsession. But now they’ve discovered the advanced complexity of sour, an ancient brewing style utilizing little-known yeasts. “Everyone’s going crazy for them,” Donagher says. Rookies should start with the deep-red Rodenbach Grand Cru, which balances tartness with malt and fruit, and then graduate to the barely sweet Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge.…

To liven up a bourbon cocktail, blend it with Armagnac brandy, which just might be the hottest craft spirit of the moment. Brandon Ristaino, owner of the Good Lion in Santa Barbara, California, describes his bourbon and brandy as a stronger French twist on an old-fashioned. “This cocktail really satisfies after dinner and just feels like a leather kiss—which is a good thing, trust me,” Ristaino says. Pucker up. INGREDIENTS 1 oz bourbon (Elijah Craig 12 Year preferred) ½ oz Armagnac ½ oz Pedro Ximénez Sherry 2 dashes Angostura bitters Orange twist DIRECTIONS Pour liquids into mixing glass. Stir with ice for 30 seconds, then strain into chilled cocktail glass. For a decadent finishing touch, flame the orange peel and place into cocktail. Start sipping.…

Coolhaus Launched by architects Natasha Case and Freya Estreller, Coolhaus ice cream has a penchant for ambitious flavor mash-ups, including such favorites as Whiskey Lucky Charms and Fried Chicken andWaffles, complete with maple-candied chicken skins. After starting as a one-van operation in Los Angeles, Coolhaus now sells its prepackaged pints across the nation. This summer, try new flavors like S’mores and the Adult Arnold (black tea, yuzu, and sweet tea moonshine). Morgenstern’s Finest Ice Cream Despite working at top-shelf restaurants like New York’s Gramercy Tavern and overseeing hot spots like El Rey on the Lower East Side, Nicholas Morgenstern had a lifelong goal to open an ice cream parlor, which he did in 2014. The classically trained pastry chef is a purist who makes what he calls “texturedriven, small-batch” ice…

On the penthouse floor of 666 Fifth Avenue lies one of the last holdouts of a luxurious bygone era. At the Grand Havana Room, New York’s elite can still enjoy a drink among smoke trails, admiring their domain below through 360-degree views, in rooms filled with luxe leather sofas and comfy chairs. Between the East and West Coast locations (there’s one in L.A. as well), members include Laurence Fishburne, Alec Baldwin, Rudy Giuliani, and dozens of the world’s top power players. As a result, the wait list is extensive: Expect to wait a minimum of two years for a formal invite.…

The 2001 cult comedyWet Hot American Summer features some of the biggest names in Hollywood. But when the movie was made, they were mostly unknowns traipsing around in cutoffs and tube socks, 10 years too old to be playing teens at camp. This July, when they reunite for the prequel, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, they’ll be nearly 15 years older. Still, the entire cast— which includes Amy Poehler, Paul Rudd, Michael Ian Black, Bradley Cooper, and Elizabeth Banks— unanimously opted in for the eight-episode Netflix series. “That was a testament to the special place that the project seems to hold in all of our hearts,” says director and cowriter David Wain, who collaborated on the script with Michael Showalter. First Day of Camp also features some…

A few years ago, Lin-Manuel Miranda read a biography of Alexander Hamilton, the founding father shot by his political rival. “By the end of the second chapter,” says Miranda, whose first Broadway play, In the Heights, won the Tony, “I was like, ‘Oh, Hamilton is Tupac.’ This guy wrote his way out of poverty to become right-hand man to General Washington. It’s Jay Z’s story; it’s Lil Wayne’s story.” The resulting hip-hop musical, Hamilton, which he wrote and stars in, won raves off-Broadway and is one of New York’s hottest tickets months before its Broadway bow.…

Along with so many other old-school grooming trends, the barbershop where you can get buzzed in more ways than one is back in fashion. Portland’s The Modern Man offers complimentary bottle of local Upheaval IPA or a shot of Burnside Bourbon to customers, who socialize amid an impressive array of pomades, balms, gels, greases, mustache waxes, oils, shave soaps, and aftershaves. “We encourage people to get to know the guy sitting next to you— you might see him again,” says Modern Man head barber Nate Easton. His most popular haircut by far? “Side part on top, nice and short on the sides,” he says. “I believe in two types of haircuts—short and shorter. It lasts longer, and you’re gonna be happier.” Russ Manley, owner of Ludlow Blunt in Brooklyn’s Williamsburg…

“I’m better than a lot of THESE GUYS , and I’m going to show them.” Hassan Whiteside reflects often on a day in 1999: He was 10 years old and nearly killed. He and his sister were crossing a street, when a car came out of nowhere. Whiteside panicked and ran the wrong way. The car broke his leg in three places, requiring pins in his knee. “I’ve thought about it a lot,” he says. And this is the thing that stuck with him: He was hit by a Honda Accord. A small car. “If it was an F-150? Or a school bus? I got fortunate, getting hit by a Honda Accord.” Many players did amazing things this past NBA season. Russell Westbrook. Stephen Curry. But Whiteside’s achievement stands out.…

Undefeated UFC bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey is the most bankable star in MMA, courtesy of her seemingly unbeatable arm bar, model looks, and a ring ferocity that recalls Mike Tyson in his scary 1980s prime. (Rousey dominated her last opponent, Cat Zingano, in just 14 seconds, whereas it took Tyson 30 seconds to KO Marvis Frazier in 1986). Besides ruling her 135-pound division, Rousey is a budding movie star with roles in Furious Seven, Entourage, and the Peter Berg–produced actioner Mile 22. Whether it’s for PPV fights or popcorn flicks, fans will be lining up to see Rousey for some time to come.…

Teresa Palmer This Aussie model turned actress stars in heist flick Triple Nine, Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups, and, perhaps most impressive, the reboot of the Keanu Reeves classic Point Break. Phoebe Tonkin A TV vet of The Vampire Diaries, Stalker, and The Originals, this Sydney standout is set to star in prep-school caper movie Take Down. Abbey Lee Kershaw She’s gone from bohomodel of the moment to action-movie ingenue, thanks to her part in Mad Max: Fury Road, with Tom Hardy reprising Mel Gibson’s titular role. Bella Heathcote She got her start on the Down Under soap Neighbours before starring in Tim Burton’s Dark Shadows. Look for her next year in the zombified Jane Austen romp Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. Jessica Hart A gap-toothed beauty who has modeled…

Lily Collins Phil Collins’ actress daughter—who broke out in the 2009 high school football weepie The Blind Side—is set to play an aging Howard Hughes’ much younger lover in the yet-to-be titled Warren Beatty film out later this year. Zoë Kravitz Lenny’s daughter stars in five movies this year, including Mad Max: Fury Road and the ’80s punk drama Viena and the Fantomes. Lily Aldridge Not only is this Victoria’s Secret supermodel married to Kings of Leon lead singer Caleb Followill, but her father, the British artist Alan Aldridge, designed album covers for the Who and the Rolling Stones. Behati Prinsloo The Namibian-born supermodel wife of Adam Levine—you know, that dude from Maroon 5 and The Voice—rocks Victoria’s Secret and Tommy Hilfiger campaigns.…

Victoria Beckham She’s come a long way from her 1990s pop stardom as Posh Spice: The fashionable wife of soccer superstar David Beckham owns an eponymous fashion line that won Best Brand of the Year in Britain last year. Angelina Jolie Actress, director, producer, human rights activist, mom to her brood of six kids with Brad Pitt…is there anything Angie can’t do? Amal Clooney The Beirut-born, London-reared lawyer and former adviser to U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan used beauty and brains to tame Hollywood’s most notorious bachelor. Gisele Bündchen This Brazilian bombshell is the world’s topearning supermodel ($47 million last year) and the better half of Patriots QB Tom Brady.…

Kelela Her 2013 mixtape Cut 4 Me earned praise from everyone from Björk to Solange Knowles, as well as comparisons to Aaliyah, which only fueled this second-generation Ethiopian L.A.-resident’s impressive early buzz. Ana Tijoux This French-born Chilean hip-hop artist shot to fame in Latin America in the late ’90s with all-girl hiphop crew Makiza. Ellie Rowsell The singer for North London’s Wolf Alice channels an unmistakable ’90s alt-rock vibe with heavy-but-melodic tracks like “Moaning Lisa Smile.” Tove Lo This Swedish singersongwriter’s catchy, polished pop has earned her slots at both Bonnaroo and Lollapalooza this summer. Sofia Reyes The Mexican-born “Muevelo” singer is the first pop artist to join Prince Royce’s new label, D’Leon Records, in partnership with Warner Latin Music. Soko This French singer, who specializes in broody, Lana Del…

Amber Heard She’ll follow her turn as a clairvoyant troublemaker in London Fields opposite husband Johnny Depp with four more films, including Magic Mike XXL and The Adderall Diaries. Dakota Johnson The daughter of Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith steamed up Fifty Shades of Grey but could gain a whole new audience with Black Mass, the buzzy biopic of Boston mob boss Whitey Bulger. Margot Robbie After turning heads with sexy roles in The Wolf of Wall Street and Focus, Robbie plays Jane opposite Alexander Skarsgård in Tarzan, and the deadly Harley Quinn in 2016’s Suicide Squad.…

“ Yes! When you eat hot sauce, it causes mild inflammation, which is good because it gets your salivary glands going,” says Dr. Ashwin Mehta, medical director of integrated medicine at the University of Miami’s Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. “We think that same effect happens in the digestive tract, where a mild inflammation increases blood flow and makes the digestive lining better able to absorb micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals.”…

Chris Hannah, bartender at the clubby Arnaud’s French 75 Bar in New Orleans, recommends jazzing up the classic vodka gimlet with Tabasco and cracked pepper for a spicy summer upgrade. This refreshing warmweather cocktail is easy to prepare and ideal for your next barbecue or outdoor dinner party, where its boozy heat is a welcome complement to soaring temps. INGREDIENTS 2 ¼ oz Stoli vodka ¾ oz Rose’s Lime Cordial 2 to 3 dashes Tabasco Lime wheel and fresh cracked pepper DIRECTIONS Shake all ingredients in cocktail shaker with ice and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Grind fresh cracked pepper on top and garnish with lime wheel. Repeat as necessary.…

We’re not imagining it: Cuts of meat are shrinking. Blame it on the rise of the artisanal butcher and his penchant for dainty versions of hard-tocome-by cuts as well as the downsizing of the American diet. Thankfully, a crew of redmeat revivalists is going big by cooking primals—the huge, cavemanworthy sections of animal from which all other steaks and chops are carved (think: the entire chuck portion of a cow or the loin of a hog). “People get tempted to do these beastly cookouts— I think there’s something in our collective memories,” says Francis Mallmann, Argentina’s patron saint of barbecue, who’s renowned for roasting an entire 1,600-pound cow over a massive fire ring, a ritual that takes up to 22 hours. Chef Eric Banh is one of many stateside chefs…

At New York’s Cosme, a single scoop of buttermilk sorbet is served atop a bright-green cucumber juice, as an off-menu palate cleanser. It follows the garlic-rubbed steak taco and precedes the corn-husk meringue. After a bite, the din of the 115-seat space quiets, the challenge of getting in fades, and one is left alone in a vegetable patch far, far away. That’s the mindbending, tasteexploding talent of chef Enrique Olvera. The bearded 39-year-old is to New York’s foodies what Moses is to the Israelites. Since he opened his high-end, 44-seat tasting menu spot, Pujol, in 2000, Olvera has taken Mexican cuisine to ever-more incandescent levels. But at Cosme, the chef jettisons fine dining in favor of fun and a damn good duck carnita. (It better be good— it takes four…

An atypical leading man is now on his way to ACTIONHERO STATUS. According to Hollywood’s unofficial rule book, Miles Teller is not your typical leading man. He looks like someone you would have hung out with in high school—unflashy, relatable, real. You might cast him as “the best friend” or “the jock,” but rarely as the hero. Which is why it’s been so much fun to see him become one of the most in-demand young stars in Hollywood. In his breakthrough role in The Spectacular Now, Teller used that everyman quality to create a completely believable character— a guy who was popular in high school and feels he’s meant for nothing greater. But last year’s Whiplash, in which his wincing mug sustained almost as many whacks as his snare drum,…

There’s nothing like an unplanned pregnancy for turning the wildest of no-strings sexual dalliances into a sticky emotional, logistical, and financial entanglement. That’s the premise of Catastrophe, a delightfully vulgar comedy series created by and starring Sharon Horgan and Twitter superhero Rob Delaney. The show aired to wild praise on Channel 4 in the U.K. and hits Amazon Prime for domestic bingewatching June 19. The humor is aggressively depraved, the dialogue peppered with f-bombs and c-bombs. As to how the British show’s humor will resonate with American viewers, Delaney says, “Funny is funny. If you want to be professionally funny, you’d better transcend geography.” The U.K.’s liberal television guidelines were a great fit for Delaney’s comedic sensibilities, which are well known to Twitter users, more than a million of whom…

In his homeland of Denmark, he’s created mountain-shaped apartment buildings, designed an energy plant that doubles as a ski slope, and won the competition to design the Lego House experience center. Now Bjarke Ingels is bringing his topsy-turvy vision to Manhattan’s West Side with W57. Set to open this year, the 750-unit apartment building by Ingels’ design group, BIG, will tweak the city’s skyline. A laidback answer to the typical skyscraper, the tetrahedron will dip in three corners and surround a massive interior courtyard, opening up the views and letting in tons of light. So while the unusual shape sets it apart, the building still manages to fit seamlessly into its surroundings.…

She’s one of L.A.’s most sought-after stylists, dressing the likes of Bradley Cooper, Chris Evans, and Will Arnett. Here are Urbinati’s six picks for the summer. Chinos “I really like a slim, flat-front chino. I think gray and navy are a little cooler than khaki. I like the Tyler by J Brand and J.Lindeberg. It’s really nice for summer because jeans are just too hot. It’s a vintage Paul Newman vibe. Add a white sneaker and you’re good to go.” White Sneaker “The low-top Achilles by Common Projects is my favorite. It’s the classic coolguy white sneaker, really clean and simple. You can almost wear it with a suit, and it’s great without socks. Axel Arigato makes a very similar style—and you can definitely do a low-top classic white Converse…

In 2013, Matt Harvey was the king of New York. The hardthrowing young pitcher for the Mets had more Ks than the Kardashians, was dating a model, and started the All-Star Game on his home field. And then it all fell apart. A torn ligament forced Harvey under the knife for Tommy John surgery, keeping him out for all of 2014. In his absence, the Mets floundered. Harvey spent a year rehabbing, hounded by an inescapable question: Could the “Dark Knight” rise again? Just a few weeks into the season, it’s clear that not only is Matt Harvey back in batter-humiliating form but the 26-year-old has given a young and talented team a leader as the Mets supplant the Yankees as the best in NYC.…

“After the civil war ended, the place basically FROZE IN TIME for 20 years.” Not a lot of great stuff came out of Nicaragua’s bloody civil war. The Reagan administration got busted for funneling arms to the contras. The Clash sold a few more copies of Sandinista! And though our erstwhile foe Presidente Daniel Ortega was pushed out of office in 1990, he was reelected in 2006 and is still going strong. But there is one silver lining. While parts of neighboring Costa Rica morphed into an expensive and overdeveloped tourist mecca—now crawling with American and European retirees—a lingering association with war and scandal scared off visitors for years, leaving Nicaragua’s beaches unspoiled, its accommodations eco-friendly, and its vibe decidedly chill. And the surfing is insane. “After the civil war…

Taylor Swift is the quintessential American success story: Armed with little more than a guitar, a boatload of ambition, and an uncanny knack for creating a proliferation of perfect pop songs, Swift has spent a decade engineering her own perfectly executed rise from that storied Pennsylvania Christmas-tree farm to the covers of magazines like this one. (So many magazines...) The past 12 months mark Swift’s best year ever, she says: She became tourism ambassador for her adopted hometown of New York, playfully satirized tabloid perceptions of her, and pivoted from her country roots to debut her first-ever pop album, earning the Billboard Woman of the Year award for the second time and assuming her rightful role among a small circle of international superstars. Swift breaks album sales records like lesser…

Daisy Ridley Expect her to become globally famous after portraying Rey, the rumored daughter of Han Solo and Princess Leia, in Star Wars: Episode VII— The Force Awakens. Tatiana Maslany The star of addictive clone drama Orphan Black doesn’t just play one of the greatest sci-fi roles on TV; she juggles 13 of them. Lupita Nyong’o After her wrenching turn in 12 Years a Slave, Nyong’o is set to ascend to sci-fi immortality in Star Wars: Episode VII. Gugu Mbatha-Raw She was out of this world in Jupiter Ascending. Next up is Concussion, costarring Will Smith. Emilia Clarke The “Mother of Dragons,” a.k.a. Khaleesi, on Game of Thrones costars with Arnold Schwarzenegger as Sarah Connor in Terminator Genisys.…

Tao Okamoto This Japanese-born beauty best known for TV’s Hannibal has already starred in 2013’s The Wolverine, and now she’ll raise her profile even higher by portraying Mercy Graves in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice. Chanel Iman More than just a stunning model and a red-carpet darling— Iman is starring in June’s Dope, a hiphop comedy set in Inglewood, California. Cara Delevingne With five movies this year—including July’s John Green teen flick Paper Towns—more than 10 million Instagram followers, and famous BFFs like Kendall Jenner, Delevingne continues to crush it.…

Cheyenne Woods The pressure is on when you’re a golf pro who happens to be Tiger Woods’ niece— but this Arizona-born athlete has been taking her best swing at the LGPA since she graduated from a decorated golf career at Wake Forest. Ashley Wagner This three-time U.S. Champion figure skater holds the national record for highest women’s free skate score. Silje Norendal The Norwegian Olympic snowboarder and X Games gold medalist competes in half-pipe, slopestyle, and boardercross (in case you were wondering). Misty Copeland The ballerina from Kansas City, Missouri, who proved she’s an athlete to be reckoned with in those Under Armour ads, is the only African-American soloist at the American Ballet Theatre in New York.…

Elizabeth Olsen Mary-Kate and Ashley’s younger sister’s career is skyrocketing; she’s poised for her next global blockbuster as Scarlet Witch in The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Gal Gadot The Israeli-born Fast & Furious vet snared a massive franchise role as Wonder Woman in the big-screen reboot that will also see her in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and The Justice League. Hayley Atwell She’s played Peggy Carter in Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Age of Ultron, and Ant-Man, and TV’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Agent Carter. Kate Mara Keep your eyes open for the House of Cards star’s hero turn as Sue Storm, a.k.a. the Invisible Woman, in this summer’s Fantastic Four reboot.…

1869 TRADITION BEGINS Edmund McIlhenny, a broke former banker, decides to make a sauce from a half-dozen peppers (no one knows where he acquired them). He plans to sell it as Petite Anse Sauce but then changes the name to Tabasco. The oldest continuous maker of hot sauce is born. 1982 THE RISE OF RISQUÉ Hot sauces have a small following. Chip Hearn’s idea to gain more attention: Give them risqué names and labels. His first is Hot Bitch at the Beach. “People said, ‘How can these guys do this?’ ” he recalls. Soon, makers begin battling to create the craziest designs. 1993 HEAT GOES MAINSTREAM “I enjoyed burning drunks with hot sauce,” says Dave Hirschkop, who owned a burrito joint near the University of Maryland and created a scorching…

HOT SAUCE IS SIMPLE to make: All it requires is chilies, vinegar, and salt. “Once you make it a few times, it becomes really easy to customize,” says chef Thomas Kelly of Manhattan’s Mexicue Kitchen & Bar. This is his pour-over-everything concoction. SMOKY HOT SAUCE Yields 2 cups INGREDIENTS 20 dried morita chilies 1 dried guajillo chile 2 canned chipotle peppers in adobo sauce ½ Tbs. minced garlic ¾ tsp. kosher salt 2 cups water 1 cup apple cider vinegar ¼ cup sherry vinegar 1 Tbs. tomato paste 1 Tbs. honey 1. Combine peppers, garlic, salt, water, and vinegars in a pot. 2. Bring ingredients to a rolling boil, then remove from heat. Allow the chilies to steep in the hot liquid until they become tender, at least 30 minutes.…

1. Looks in your eyes 2. Has a great sense of humor 3. Cooks for me! I want to bang him afterward 4. Engages in witty banter 5. Puts his hand in my back pocket 6. Is funny 7. Has a six-pack 8. Wears the hell out of a T-shirt 9. Wears beautifulsmelling cologne that makes you want to follow him around 10. Can hold an intelligent conversation with a woman, be a true man’s man, and still goof off 11. Grabs my waist 12. Bites his lip 13. Is confident without being narcissistic 14. Whispers, “I love you” 15. Cooks 16. Cooks! 17. Goes down on me 18. Uses your and you’re correctly on OKCupid 19. Is holding his child 20. Is confident but humble 21. Acts goofy 22.…